And Then There Came Progress...

Nearly a week since my last post, and there has been much happening that I need to jot on here. Currently on a Friday off at the moment since I have not been feeling well with a fever, but on the plus side it gives me a bit of time to write on here while I'm curled up in my sleeping bag. On the Monday we had a meeting with several select members of the community to check the possibility of booking the community hall to hold our sessions whie the youth continue to be out of school because of holidays. We successfully booked it on Tuesday 19th June between 2 till 6pm to hold a information event which we're all excited to plan. Our follow up meeting with the community elders on Wednesday possessed a larger reception where we expanded on our plans surrounding the event on Tuesday. Having split up roles between us as the Zozo group, I will be covering CV writing, interview skills plus job searching at my stall. As a team we'll have stalls covering questions on sexual reproductive health, life skills with regard to motivation etc,  together with mini taekwando and soccer lessons to to engage the youth. I'm excited to cover employment issues, as youth unemployment is a prevalent issue in the Eastern Cape where we're based. On a more recent note we've now got the community hall booked every Tuesday and Thursday 12 to 4pm so that we have a permanent timetable in which to give our information sessions to the youth of Zozo. We also recieved the positive news that we will now be granted a budget to buy material in order to hold sewing lessons as the local youth were really excited regarding that prospect. Thanks to my talented Mother I luckily know a little bit here and there with sewing and will be happy to help out, though I'll be keeping my  focus on tackling unemployment. If I carried on meticulously I will end up writing a ridiculously long post haha, so on other issues 2 months left in South Africa now! Plus  I'm still not used to the pit latrine hahaha, Sunaina x

Where all the Dogs at?

Dogs rule the streets in South Africa, which is bad news if you're not too comfortable with catching rabies. I find myself wishing some sort of etiquette existed which would stop every stray jumping on me, barking at me and thinking we're friends when we never will be. On the positive note things keep moving onwards and upwards! Without much guidance from the office, which is rather unfortunate, us as the Zozo group have taken further steps to getting stuck ino the community. We had a meeting with the teachers at the local school yesterday morning to explain our objectives. We were met with a rather positive and euthusiastic reaction to our proposals which will hopefully be in place on a permanent basis by Monday with times and venues sorted which we require to undertake our workshops.  Even the teachers requested to be given workshops on certain topics such as conflict management, which is wonderful because it passes on skills which can be used once we've left the community. Luckily the school were quite supportive of our sexual reproductive health workshop proposals too, so we will be capable of passing on information regarding STIs, pregnancy and using protection. Further to that we will certainly be holding CV writing and interview skills workshops in order to help the current issue of youth unemployment to a certain extent. Will know more information on Monday hopefully so until then, Sunaina x

No longer wearing make-up

Finally not wearing make-up which is quite refreshing, though I can't say its too pretty - sorry fellow volunteers. Settling into Zozo now, becoming more of an expert at the pit latrine though thats nothing to brag of. Been trying to get stuck into the community and currently have been split into groups of three, where we will be each delivering presentations  on important issues. My group is covering careers and will be presenting information on CV writing, interview skills and job searching to the local school staff tomorrow and to the community elders in a meeting on Wednesday. Its quite exciting to be getting stuck into the work we will be completing, particularly due to its relevance to youth unemployment which is an important issue here. Will be keeping everyone updated as much as I can, Sunaina x

2 Weeks Later...

Hello everyone, probably time I composed a blog post since I've been here two weeks now. Just completed training on Wednesday and moved from Cata to a community called Zozo in Kwelhra.  Our training conducted by the Restless Development South Africa office covered relevant material in areas such as sexual reproductive health and life skills, though I have to comment that information on CV writing and interviewing skills remained non existent - even though unemployment poses a massive issue to the Eastern Cape. To that regard I luckily possess some skills concerning employment matters, so that's a positive.
With concern to my living conditions I've been very lucky with two lovely host families. My first host family I only lived two weeks with, and my current host mother called Mama G, or Gladys I'll be staying with till I leave South Africa. To the intriguing business...yes the toilet is a pit latrine, no luxuries at that end. Doubt I'll get used to it but our host home makes it all seem better as it is pretty much one of the best placements!
I'm excited to see what the next couple of weeks will bring as we get stuck into the community and try and tackle important issues such as sexual health, youth unemployment and the prospects of higher education I hope to keep everyone updated on here, until then Sunaina x